Kirigakure — Hidden Mist Village
Shigure found Uchiha Fugaku shortly after learning the situation.
"I'll bring Sasuke back," Shigure said calmly. "You have my word."
Fugaku was visibly surprised. Shigure had only just finished learning the details, yet the first thing he did was come to reassure him.
"Lord Mizukage," Fugaku replied seriously, "the priority right now isn't Sasuke's life or death. The real issue is Kirigakure itself."
"The three major ninja villages are already preparing for war against the Hidden Mist. The most urgent matter is how to extinguish the flames of war."
Shigure simply smiled.
"Don't worry. In my eyes, the three great villages are far less important than Sasuke."
Fugaku frowned. "Even if it leads to war?"
Shigure's expression turned disdainful.
"With that group of people? Oppose me?" he scoffed. "That would simply be courting death."
Then he turned toward Terumī Mei, who stood nearby.
"Even though you've stepped down as Mizukage, you still need to remain in Kirigakure. Someone has to keep watch over the village, otherwise I can't leave with peace of mind."
Terumī immediately looked displeased.
"You're going out again?"
"Of course," Shigure replied. "Otherwise who's going to find Sasuke?"
Terumī sighed helplessly.
"This time is different. Your actions could trigger a Fourth Great Ninja War across the entire shinobi world, so…"
"Relax," Shigure interrupted. "I'll personally visit the three major ninja villages. Once I'm done, none of them will dare start a war."
With that, Shigure slowly stood and walked toward the door.
Kuji instinctively moved to follow him, but Shigure raised a hand.
"Go call Temari."
After being exchanged and brought to Kirigakure, Temari's situation had been somewhat awkward.
She had no real friends in the village, and her relationship with Shigure was not that of a couple. Because of that, she often seemed isolated.
If Hinata Hyūga hadn't occasionally visited her, her life in Kirigakure would have been even lonelier.
As time passed, Temari gradually realized just how terrifying Kirigakure had become.
The shinobi of the Hidden Mist were improving rapidly. Powerful ninja seemed to appear everywhere.
Not wanting to be looked down upon by them, Temari began training intensely in secret.
Hinata even asked Shigure for guidance on Wind Release ninjutsu, then passed those insights on to Temari.
Because of that, Temari's strength improved rapidly.
At the very least, she was now not far from the level she would reach two years later as a guard of the Kazekage.
When Temari was called to the office, Shigure looked at her carefully.
Compared to before, she had changed quite a bit.
Originally she had only appeared arrogant and cold.
Now, however, she carried a heroic and spirited presence. Even her physical development had noticeably matured.
By Shigure's standards, Temari had now become fully qualified as a beauty.
"I didn't expect you to change this much in such a short time," Shigure said.
Temari looked at him carefully.
The aura around Shigure had changed as well.
A strange fluctuation emanated from his body, making her heart tremble slightly.
He felt… far more dangerous than before.
"Do you want to go home?" Shigure suddenly asked.
Temari blinked in surprise.
"You're going to Sunagakure?" she asked cautiously. "But the Hidden Sand hasn't officially declared war on the Hidden Mist. What exactly are you planning?"
Seeing her nervous expression, Shigure laughed lightly.
"Relax. I'm not going there to start a war."
"I'm searching for a missing-nin from Kirigakure. If the person I'm looking for isn't in Sunagakure, I'll leave immediately."
"I'm bringing you along simply because you haven't returned to Sunagakure in a long time. I thought you might want to see your home again."
"But don't misunderstand. I'll bring you back afterward."
Temari frowned slightly.
"Honestly, my role in Kirigakure is very small now," she said. "With your influence as Mizukage, no ninja village would dare oppose you without a special reason."
"So why insist on keeping me here?"
"A reason?" Shigure said.
He walked directly toward her.
Ignoring the others still present in the office, he lifted his hand and gently hooked Temari's chin upward.
"With such a beauty," he said casually, "how could I possibly let her go?"
After saying that, Shigure walked past her and left the Mizukage's office.
Temari remained standing there, her face flushed red.
Outside the office, Shigure suddenly paused.
"Call Hinata as well," he said.
He hadn't seen her for quite some time.
This journey would be a good opportunity to spend some time with both Hinata and Temari.
Deep down, Shigure could already sense something.
He might not remain in the shinobi world for much longer.
After leaving Kirigakure, Shigure traveled together with Temari and Hinata.
He used Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique to carry them rapidly across the sea.
Compared to before, Shigure's current abilities had changed dramatically.
Now that he possessed Dark Chakra in addition to his other powers, the Water Dragon he created was enormous.
Not only that—
the flowing water itself carried an unusually dark and ominous color.
A faint trace of black could be seen within the turquoise water.
The color gave the flowing current an eerie appearance.
Just looking at it made people feel uneasy.
The journey from Kirigakure to Sunagakure took less than thirty minutes.
For Shigure now, distance had almost lost all meaning.
They soon arrived at the outskirts of the Hidden Sand Village.
Temari still couldn't quite understand what he intended to do.
"You came to Sunagakure because of Uchiha Sasuke, right?" she asked. "Aren't you afraid your actions will directly anger the Hidden Sand?"
She watched as Shigure showed no intention of slowing down. Instead, he headed straight toward the center of Sunagakure.
Shigure smiled faintly.
"If we want to avoid another Shinobi World War, this is necessary."
Temari frowned.
Avoid a war?
How exactly did this method prevent one?
Just as she was still wondering, Shigure suddenly snapped his fingers.
In the next instant—the Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique beneath them dispersed.
The single massive water dragon suddenly split apart.
Nine enormous water dragons formed in the sky.
Each one looked ferocious and terrifying as they surged toward Sunagakure from above.
The people of Sunagakure immediately noticed the phenomenon.
Civilians and shinobi alike looked up in shock.
Above them, nine enormous water dragons filled the sky, blotting out the sunlight as if they were about to swallow the entire village.
"Water Release?!"
"In the sky?!"
"Take cover!"
Panicked voices echoed throughout the village as people rushed into nearby buildings.
In the next moment, the nine water dragons surrounded the sky above Sunagakure.
The largest one in the center opened its mouth and released a massive torrent of water.
The flowing water formed a spiraling path that extended downward like a staircase, landing directly in the central plaza of Sunagakure.
Shigure calmly stepped onto the watery steps and began walking down.
By this time, many Sand shinobi had already gathered below.
The Kazekage, Gaara, floated into the air on a cloud of sand, rising toward Shigure.
But the moment he clearly saw who it was, he froze for a brief moment.
The Mizukage of Kirigakure…
With such an entrance—
was he here to provoke Sunagakure?
"Mizukage-sama… from the Hidden Mist…" Gaara said cautiously. "What exactly… are you doing?"
Shigure didn't answer.
He simply continued walking down the steps formed by flowing water.
Step by step.
And with each step—
a terrifying pressure erupted from his body.
An overwhelming aura suddenly burst outward.
It instantly enveloped the entire Hidden Sand Village.
The sky above Sunagakure twisted violently.
Dark clouds gathered into a massive vortex, while black-red lightning crackled through the heavens.
For a moment, it looked as though the end of the world had arrived.
Then—the first Sand shinobi collapsed.
He couldn't withstand the pressure and fell unconscious.
Then the second.
And the third.
One after another, Sand shinobi began collapsing to the ground as the overwhelming Haoshoku Haki-like pressure flooded the entire village.
(End of Chapter)
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